Letter-holder



N; w. GREASONI LETTER HOLDER. APPLICATION =HLE Dl FE B. 8; I919- PatntedFeb.1 1921.

Em a;

[Var/nan Midremsozz 4 7 Witnesses UNITED STATES.

NORMAN W. GREASONQOF MARYS, ONTARIO, CANADA.

LETTER-HOLDER.

Application filed February 8, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NORMAN W. GnnAsoN, asubject of the King of Great Britain, residing at St. Marys, in thelrovince of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have in vented new anduseful Improvements in Letter-Holders, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive andefficient attachment for rural and similar mail boxes designed toreceive and hold letters under such conditions as to facilitate theremoval thereof from the box, to insure the movement of the same intothe box as the lid or door of the latter is closed so that the mailmatter may be effectually protected from rain or moisture gaining accessto the box near the opening thereof, and whereby when the box. is openedby the mail carrier or collector, the mail is projected withinconvenient reach and may be removed bodily from the box without theinconveniences now experienced, particularly in the collection of mailduring rainy, cold and otherwise severe weather by necessitating the carrier, in order to lift the mail from the bottom of the ordinary box toremove his gloves and thus suffer exposure and discomfort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the purposeindicated which may conveniently be applied to any of the ordinary formsor types of mail boxes now in common use without in other respectsmodifying the construction of such receptacle.

l urther objects and advantages will appear in the course of thefollowing descri tion, it being understood that changes in form,proportion and details may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a sectional view of a mail box to which anattachment embodying the invention has been applied, the box being 1shown closed.

. tached.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view show- Speeification of LettersPatent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Serial No. 275,918.

ing the manner of mounting the rocker within the box.

The attachmentwhich embodies a rocker is adapted to be connected withand arranged within a mail box of any ordinary type such as indicated at11, a flexible or jointed arm 12 being extended from one end,preferably, of the rocker to the door 13 of the box, where it may beattached as at 1:1 by means of a screw or the equivalent thereof. At theouter extremity said connection consists of the bracket 15 and at itsinner end of an arm 16 secured to the rocker, the said bracket and armbeing connected by a link 17, so that when the door of the box isclosed, the rocker by communication of motion thereto from the door,will be turned inward and backward whereas when the door is opened therocker willbe swung forward as indicated in Fig. 2 so as to project theends of the articles of mail matter shown at A' in position to bereadily grasped by the mail carrier. For clamping the mail matter to therocker the latter may be provided with any suitable and preferredconstruction of means, consisting, for example, of an extended loopedjaw 18 and a cooperating spring jaw 19 having a thumb loop or grip 19.The spring jaw is preferably provided with an actuating spring 20serving to maintain a yielding closed relation of the jaws to engage theletters and other mail matter interposed therebetween. hen the door ofthe box is opened for the purpose of introducing the mail matter, therocker which is fulcrumed or pivoted relative to the box by pins 21 istilted forward so that the clamp is readily accessible and after theletters have been inserted between the jaws of the clamp the closing ofthe door of the box will tilt the rocker rearwardly and while holdingthe mail matter out of contact with the floor or bottom of the box, sothat it is protected from moisture, will project the same rearwardlyaway from the door and hence out of the reach of any rain or moisturewhich might be driven by the wind or otherwise through the door openingaround the closure. Again when the door is opened by the carrier, themovement thereof is communicated to the holder which is rocked forwardto project the ends of the letters through the door opening where theymay be easily grasped in one movement and disengaged from the clamp, sothat all inconveniences and loss of time so far as the carrier isconcerned is avoided.

It will be seen moreover that the only connection between the box andthe holder is that necessary to secure the terminal bracket of theflexible connection to the door, and insert the threaded or other pivotpins 21 through the side walls of the box to terminally engage the endsof the rocker.

What I claim:

1. In combination, a mail box, a hinged door therefor, asemi-cylindrical member arranged transversely within the box and pivotedbetween the sides thereof for rocking movement, clamping jaws carried bysaid member for engaging the letters, a link having connection with saidmember and with the door of the box, whereby tilting movement isimparted to the member to project the clamped letters rearwardly orforwardly by the closing and opening movements of the door, and saidmember and clamping jaws being maintained or wholly disposed within thebox in any of their positions as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination, a mail box, a hinged door. therefor, asemi-cylindrical member journaled between the sides of the box inparallelism with the open end thereof, resilient clamping jaws carriedby the flat side of. said meml er and cooperating to engage the letterspositioned between said jaws, one of said jaws projecting above theother and at right angles thereto to provide a finger engaging portionto facilitate the opening of said jaws, an arm rising from one end ofsaid member, a link pirotally eonnected with said arm and with the doorof the box, whereby tilting movement is imparted to the member toproject the clamped letters rearwardly or forwardly by the closing andopening movement of the door, and said member and clamping jaws as aunit being wholly disposed within the box in any of its positions.

3. In combination, a mail box, a hinged door therefor, asemi-cylindrical member jonrnaled between the sides of the box andadjacent the open end thereof, clamping jaws carried by said member forengaging the letters and holding the latter positioned upon the flatside of said memher, a link connecting the member with said door,whereby the letters are pro jected through the door opening when thedoor is opened and projects the letters rearwardly and at an obtuseangle to the door opening when the door is closed, said member with itsclamping jaws being wholly disposed within the box in any of itspositions.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

NORMAN \V. GREASON.

